To lend credibility to their demands, one of the villagers earnestly proclaims, “She turned me into a newt.” All eyes fall upon him expectantly as he is obviously not an amphibian of any sort. He replies to their silent query, “I got better.”
What does this have to do with wildflowers, you ask? Well, it is Halloween, and Halloween is when witches are about, and if anybody could find a use for a wildflower, berry, or bit of tuber, it would be a witch.
Wildflowers, or more precisely plants in general, provided us our first source of food as well as our first source of medicine. Lore blossomed about all such plants, and those with knowledge and experience in such things were considered more than experts; they became healers, priestesses, midwives, shaman, sorcerers. They were persons held in high esteem. As times changed and new religions became fashionable, such people fell into disrepute, considered evil in many cases.
Religious beliefs aside, a rich history of folklore surrounding wildflowers is still with us today. Some of it is the stuff of fairy tales, some of it an imaginative and fanciful explanation of the real “power” of a plant. It provides insight into cultures both past and present, and now, when stooped hags with warty noses straddle broomsticks around every corner, it is something to ponder.
The “magical powers” of many plants are simply the consequence of hallucinogenic or toxic properties. The Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) is a who’s who of such “mystical” plants, as well as more user-friendly species such as tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and tobacco (okay, the last one’s user-friendly, but maybe not user-wise).
One of the more “notable” of the family is Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), a foul-smelling weed introduced from tropical America. It’s common name is a corruption of ‘Jamestown’, the city in Virginia where, in 1676, British soldiers cooked the leaves for greens, consequently suffering hallucinogenic effects that made the 1960’s look like a pie eating contest. Not all the soldiers lived to tell the tale.
Another family of plants that includes palatable roots, seeds and herbs as well as dangerous “magical” counterparts in the family album is the Carrot or Parsley Family (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae). Like carrots, the young stems and roots of Cow Parsnip (Hercaleum lanatum) can be eaten. Unfortunately it and Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), another member of the family with edible roots, resemble the very, very toxic Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata).
Go To Page: 1 2
